Serbia slashes drug co‑payments and expands reimbursed medicines

Serbia drug price reduction co‑payment cap RFZO medicine list expansion

From 1 August the Serbian government introduced a package of measures that sharply reduces patients’ co‑payments for medicines. The co‑payment for drugs on the A1 list is now capped at 10 %–50 % of the price, affecting 769 medicines – about 99.6 % of the list. The state earmarked roughly €104.8 million (12.2 billion dinars) to fund the lower contributions, with an 8.5 billion‑dinars allocation for a temporary 12‑month reduction and a 3.7 billion‑dinars yearly budget for a permanent expansion of the reimbursed drug list.

On 17 August the list of medicines covered by compulsory health insurance was expanded by 145 new products, including innovative therapies for rare, oncological, cardiovascular and other serious diseases. President Aleksandar Vučić visited a pharmacy in Kalna to verify that the new lower prices are being applied, saying the reforms are delivering concrete results for citizens.

The measures are part of a broader economic package that also includes tourist vouchers, one‑off cash assistance and a new parental‑care law, but the drug‑price reforms are the most visible change for millions of Serbian patients.

Entities

Aleksandar Vučić · Corporate profit tax · European Union · Government of Serbia · Pharmacy '1. Maj' · Reimbursement drug list · Republic Fund for Health Insurance (RFZO) · Republic of Serbia · Serbian Ministry of Health

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The temporary co‑payment reduction measure is funded with 8.5 billion dinars for a minimum of 12 months. biznis.kurir.rs
[● 2 SOURCES] The reduction applies to 769 medicines, covering about 99.6 % of the A1 list. biznis.kurir.rs · biznis.rs
[○ 1 SOURCE] The state allocated €104.8 million (12.2 billion dinars) to fund the drug‑price reductions. biznis.kurir.rs
[● 2 SOURCES] From 1 August the Serbian government implemented a package that reduces drug co‑payments for patients. biznis.kurir.rs · www.sd.rs
[● 2 SOURCES] From 17 August the reimbursed drug list was expanded by 145 new medicines, including innovative therapies. 013info.rs · biznis.rs
[○ 1 SOURCE] The permanent expansion of the drug list is financed with 3.7 billion dinars per year. biznis.kurir.rs
[○ 1 SOURCE] President Aleksandar Vučić visited a pharmacy in Kalna to verify that lower drug prices are being applied. www.kurir.rs
[● 2 SOURCES] Co‑payment for medicines on List A1 is limited to 10 %–50 % of the price. biznis.rs · biznis.kurir.rs